Last week, on Thursday, I had been fasting for 8 days, and I started feeling sick. I did not feel that my feeling was fasting related, but I did decide to go ahead and break my fast, so I ate a small meal on Thursday evening.
On Friday when I woke up, I was very sick. I was very nauseous, had a very bad headache and aches and pains all over my body. I also had a fever. With these symptoms, I felt almost certain that I had picked up some kind of a flu bug, even though it is not the season. It even made me more certain that the sickness was not due to fasting.
By Friday evening, just over 24 hours after feeling sick, I felt much better. Again, this, to me, even made it more clear that I had picked up a 24-hour virus, and it was not about the fast.
I decided to go ahead and eat on Saturday, though, and to resume fasting starting after dinner on Saturday. For the next few weeks, I plan to fast starting at 6 PM on Saturday evening through 6 PM on Friday evenings. So, for the next few weeks or more, I will do 6 days of fasting each week and see how I like that. Changing things up is important so that your body does not fall into a routine, which tends to reset your metabolism and make it hard to lose weight.
During this sick time, I told a few people that I know about my experience. The first thing that almost every one of them said was:
See, I knew that fasting was bad for you. The fact that you are not eating is messing up your health!
They said that or something quite similar.
I got thinking about this statement. People are very critical about fasting, and I get a lot of negativity from people about it. That’s OK, I know that it is improving my health vastly, and my doctors feel the same. But the statement stuck in my mind and put a kind of reverse statement into my head. Maybe I should start saying this to people.
If somebody is eating a “normal” diet, and they get sick (we all get sick, right?), maybe I should say:
It is probably because of the types of food you are eating!
LOL. Well, it fits in with what they are telling me!
The thing is, we all get to decide what is best for us to eat. Funny thing is that over the years of my life, I have been criticized so many times because I am obese, I am fat, I am unhealthy, etc. Now, I make huge changes, and most of the same people who criticized me for years due to my obesity are not criticizing me for fasting! You can’t win. I really don’t care, though, I am feeling good, seeing huge changes in my body (not only weight), and generally feel good about myself. So, the effects are both physical and mental.
What do you think? If you get sick, is it because you are not eating? Is it because you eat junk? Or is it just because you were exposed to a virus? Of course, it depends on the sickness. I doubt we can get the flu from not eating, though.
Well, I still believe in the germ (virus) theory of disease! Bad eating and general poor health make it easier for is to be brought down my those germs and viruses, but good health and a good diet makes the inevitable bout with sickness last a shorter time, and less likely to develop into something more serious. Fasting makes the body’s immune system more alert and active, so that is even better! But people are afraid of hunger and not eating at least three meals a day. We have been told since early childhood that eating is essential. Here in the Philippines, there are even more beliefs regarding food, hunger (causes ulcers), and fatness (the sign of a happy, well-nourished person). In the Philippines, a thin person is regarded as unhealthy, and probably sad and depressed as well. These are all very hard concepts to overcome. Maybe we can change the way some people think.
That is completely true, or culture and so geared towards being fearful if we’re not eating. Most people don’t even consider eating three times a day is enough, these days they think 5 or 6 small meals is the way to go. It just not true though especially for somebody with diabetes.
Good article. Processed carbs is the killer… Worse then cigarettes but the food culture has such a stranglehold in Western it’s not going to change anytime soon.
Hi Wally. It really does seem to be very true, it is the processed food, especially to process carbs that are a real killer. I haven’t really looked into it enough to say that it’s more of a killer than cigarettes, but I think it is certainly along the same lines.
Bob I applaud and completely support your fasting and know you just caught a bug. You are doing the right thing and ignoring the negative comments I would. I am really proud and happy for all of your accomplishments. Stick with it my friend. You will win in the end!
Thank you very much, Terry, I appreciate your support!
I went vegetarian and dropped over 80 pounds..My total cholesterol dropped without drugs from 220 to 75 in a bit over 6 months..my a1c number from diabetes went from almost 12 down to 6.5… I felt great…I looked great…my endocrinologist said I could quit insulin…I laughed and reminded him that on my first visit he condescendingly told me “I’m putting you on insulin…you will need it in increasing doses for the rest of your life..” I told him…I had not used insulin in almost 2 months…thanked him for inspiring me to prove him wrong…
I cannot tell you the number of people who told me my diet was wrong and unhealthy…morbidly obese people…lol
Hi Will, it sounds like your journey and mine are very similar, at least our ending points are similar, though we took different routes to our destination. I was using 100 units of insulin and 3 oral meds a year ago, now I am no longer diabetic and use nothing. My cholesterol is almost the same as yours, in the 70s (never was higher than 140). Congratulations on your success! It feels good, doesn’t it? BTW, my endocrinologist told me almost the same identical thing that yours told you! ๐
Bob Martin whatever works…I’m no longer vegetation…but I eat very little red meat…it’s hard to do here..here ..fruits and veggies are seasonal… I lived in south Florida…because of the Miami airport things were always in season somewhere..strawberries might come from Michigan then later from Brazil…always fresh..no so here…but still not on insulin…
My worst habit…diet soda…
Here in Mindanao fruits and veggies are not so seasonal, as our weather remains the same most of the year. No rainy season here (except extreme northern Mindanao). The diet I eat includes a fair amount of red meat. Mostly my calories (when I eat) is from fat, around 80%. Fat does not have any effect at all on blood sugar, and causes no insulin reaction. But, like you say, whatever works! I have kicked the diet soda now, although I used to be addicted.
Bob Martin just curious, Bob, but do you also consume organ meats in your diet (heart, liver, kidneys)? Excellent sources of nutrition as well. Just my two cents, or shall I say, 50 sentimo รฐยยย
I can eat Oregon Meats if I want, but no I do not.
Again, just curious. Really is a shame the medical “professionals” don’t push different dietary choices. It’s ultimately up to each of us to do what is in our best interests. High protein, high fat, low to zero carbs for me. Then again, different goals. Great work.
I don’t really worry too much about cholesterol. If my levels go too low, I will start looking at it more. Right now, I feel fine. Our bodies (especially our brain) needs cholesterol, I know that.
This is true, you can get sick regardless of diet. You have to know your body, and know what is and isn’t a normal reaction.
On a somewhat related subject…They don’t sell pepto bismol in the Philippines
Coincidentally, I picked up a very bad cold and chesty cough during my last weeks stay in DC. It took 3 weeks to fully shift it. Seems to be a few bugs going around at the moment.
Seems there’s always something going around! I hope you feel better.
I thinks its generally agreed that the best way to eat for good health, is a good carefully balanced diet, not over eating, not under eating, just the correct amount of calories every day…balanced with good regular exercise. that I think is one of the secrets of good health and long life.
That was the past thinking, but that is not the generally accepted thing now at least in many communities. I’ve got an article coming out on this site today, when you say balanced, that’s what my article is about, and it might surprise you.
I cannot agree. That is still the generally accepted standard anywhere in the world. A balanced diet and good exercise. It is the common sense way to Good health and long life. We will have to agree to disagree.
I have no problem if you don’t agree, Malcolm. I hope we can disagree from time to time and still be be friends! I know that what I am doing is working well for me. You don’t face the same health problems that I face, so it stands to reason that what works well for you is different than what works well for me. I do wish you good luck, my friend.
Malcolm Mac thats old school thinking but you have a right to your opinion as do we all..
Ok Bob..no problem..We have disagreed before ..and I am sure we will again ..(:-)). Stay healthy and safe .
Scott Michaelis . I sure do ..lol..And you are entitled to yours..even if its wrong. (:-))
What the USDA says is a balanced diet is not really a balanced diet. Slices of bread, apple juice, dairy are not healthy. All refined carbohydrates that were introduced in their present form in the industrial age. I knew a farmer he told me once if you want to fatten up your livestock just use the USDA food pyramid.
I have no idea what the USDA is ..lol. But I know what a balanced diet is!..as do most people …whether they stick to it or not is a different thing !…lol
Just wondering Malcolm…. should a child with a severe peanut allergy eat peanuts as part of his balanced diet? Of course not, it would kill him. Back 100 years or more ago, did you know that they called diabetes a “carbohydrate allergy”? That is what I have, and allergy to carbohydrates. If I eat a “balanced” diet, including carbs as recommended by our government it can kill me. It almost did kill me last year.
What a strange thing to say …Do you really think anyone should eat something they are allergic to?? ..that would be very stupid don`t you think?…What on Earth has eating a balanced diet got to do with avoiding foods you are allergic to?? I am allergic to Lime juice …so..I dont drink it …lol
Not trying to be strange. I am just pointing out that people like me who are diabetic have an allergy to carbs. I am not trying to be mean or anything, Governments all over the world say that a “balanced diet” means lots of grains and such (they are the most recommended on the food pyramid), but those are the things that I am “allergic” to. Not trying to be funny or make fun of what you are saying. This is a literally a life and death thing for me. It almost took my life last year.
OK…so obviously you avoid Carbs then..there are plenty of good alternatives. I can give you a list .. You know Bob, your blog used to be all about Living in Mindanao, but now its just really about health issues, while they may be interesting..it would be good to get back to talking about Davao as well. What do you think ?
this is an extremely important topic that affects many many people and I think its very suitable for it to be talked about here
That may well be so Scott, there are many sites that talk about health, but we are here primarily to draw on Bobs experience about living in Mindanao and Davao.
ok, thats a good point if it were not part of Bobs life life threatening experience in Davao and the Philippines. Im going to leave this alone for now I just find it very enlightening and it does pertain to my own life here in the Philippines!
Malcolm Mac Yes, that is what I am doing. But, when I avoid carbs, people criticize me, say I am stupid and such. That is what my article is all about. I have a blog about Living in the Live in the Philippines. This is a different website that you are replying too. I have many websites including about health and also about living here! ๐ My Philippines site has new posts daily, and you are more than welcome to read it every single day! This other blog is about health though… a totally different subject.
Thank you Scott Michaelis. Like I told Malcolm, I have another website about living in the Philippines, this is just a different website where this health information comes from. ๐ Malcolm seemingly does not realize that is not the same website! ๐
OK Bob..you take care ..I don`t want to add to your troubles. Goodnight from us.
Malcolm Mac Coming here to my 430 To Fit blog isnot the place to come for info about Davao or the Philippines. That is on my Live in the Philippines site: http://LiveInThePhilippines.com
Wow, I did not say or feel that you are adding to troubles, Malcolm. If you think I feel you are making trouble for me… well…
You take care Bob…I wish you health and long life ..
Take care, Malcolm.